The priest slowly unfolded his handkerchief and shook it out preparatory to blowing his nose.
“Her mistress must regret her greatly,” he said. “But it is a debt we must all pay at last.” And he blew his nose loudly.
Joanna made her appearance at this moment, wrapped in a shawl, with a handkerchief tied around her head. She had heard from the neighbors that Juliana was dead, and that the master and mistress were at Dom Sebastião’s. She came from there now. Luiza had sent for her to her room, and when Joanna saw her “dear mistress” lying ill in bed, she shed tears; but Luiza told her that now things would soon be better, and that she might come back.
“And listen, Joanna,” she ended; “if the master should ask you, say that you went to Bellas to see your aunt.”
The girl went for her bundle, and installed herself anew in the house, somewhat frightened by a death having taken place there.
Shortly afterwards Senhor Paula knocked discreetly at the door. He came to offer his services for whatever might be wanted on the occasion. Taking off his cap, and scraping his foot, he said in his hoarse voice, “I am very sorry for the misfortune,—very sorry. But we are all mortal!”
“True, true, Senhor Paula,” answered Jorge; “but I need nothing. Many thanks.”
And he shut the door abruptly. He was impatient to get rid of the whole matter; irritated by the hammering of the men upstairs who were nailing the coffin, he called to Joanna,—
“Tell those people to make haste; we don’t want this to go on forever.”
Joanna went upstairs to deliver the message. She had made friends with the Senhora Margarida, who went to the kitchen with her to take a little refreshment; as there was no fire she contented herself with some bread and wine, which she declared good enough for any one.